Anton YefanovWhat a DOTS score is
A heavier lifter can usually lift more, so a raw total says little about who is stronger for their size. DOTS divides your total by a curve fitted to bodyweight and scales it so scores across weight classes, and between men and women, land on one comparable number. That is how meets pick a best lifter across weight classes, and how you can compare your own total from one bodyweight to the next.
DOTS, Wilks and IPF GL points
All three adjust a total for bodyweight; they differ in the data and the curve behind them. Wilks, introduced in the 1990s, was the standard for decades but came to favour some weight classes over others. DOTS was introduced in 2019 as a refit on more recent results. The IPF replaced Wilks with its own GL points in 2020, with separate coefficients for each sex and event. A score only means something next to others from the same formula.
The formulas
Each score is your total in kilograms multiplied by a coefficient that depends on bodyweight. DOTS and Wilks fit a polynomial to bodyweight; GL fits an exponential curve.
| Score | Formula |
|---|---|
| DOTS | total × 500 ÷ (a + b·bw + c·bw² + d·bw³ + e·bw⁴) |
| Wilks | total × 500 ÷ (a + b·bw + c·bw² + d·bw³ + e·bw⁴ + f·bw⁵) |
| IPF GL | total × 100 ÷ (A − B × e^(−C × bw)) |
bw is bodyweight in kilograms. The letters are fixed coefficients that differ between men and women. Bodyweights outside the range each formula was fitted on are capped at its limits.
Know your lifts first
No recent max? Estimate each lift from a hard set of a few reps, then bring the numbers back here.
Frequently asked questions
Which score does my federation use?
The IPF and its affiliates have used IPF GL points since 2020. Many other national and independent federations use DOTS, and some still award best lifter on Wilks. Your federation's rulebook says which one counts at your meet.
Can I enter my lifts in pounds?
Yes. Switch the unit to lb and enter your bodyweight and lifts in pounds. Every formula works in kilograms, so the calculator converts before scoring, and the result is the same whichever unit you used.
Can I score a bench only meet?
This calculator scores a full three-lift total. DOTS and Wilks can be applied to any total, but IPF GL points use different coefficients for bench only and for equipped lifting, so the GL score here is for classic powerlifting only.
Why do my DOTS and Wilks scores differ?
They use different curves fitted to different data, so they weight bodyweight differently. Around the middle weight classes the two land close together; at very light and very heavy bodyweights they drift further apart.